Rick Mercer and the Refugee Lifeline

As you know, I believe the challenge of settling thousands of Syrian refugees in this country is a gift not a burden.

A chance to show that after the darkness of the Harper years, we still remember what it means to be a Canadian.

So although the Con media is running around gleefully screaming "broken promise!!!! broken promise !!!!!"

I'm glad Justin Trudeau has decided to give us two more months to get ready to receive them. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government won't fulfil its campaign pledge to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada by the end of the year, but justified the delay by saying it is more important to "make sure it's done right."

Because if this is to be our moment to show who we are, that's ALL that counts.

Not the fears of the population who believe that the refugees are a terrorist threat, when CSIS and the RCMP say they're not.

Not the cheap politics of Michelle Rempel...



Who is sounding crazier every day, after having helped stir up those fears, and having served her depraved bigot master Stephen Harper so faithfully for so long.

What counts is making sure that we are ready to receive those new Canadians. So we can really be an example to the rest of the world.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees is praising Canada on its plan to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees, even going so far as to say that other countries should follow suit.

And above all making sure that we are prepared to deal with what will be a formidable challenge. For these are refugees not immigrants...



The ones coming to us from the UN camps are the poorest of the poor, most of them have lost everything they owned, and many of them are traumatized. 

Refugee children and adults around the world are plagued by high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, say Canadian mental health experts who hope more resources will be offered to Syrian newcomers.

So we will have to heal them, and support them, as well as embrace them, if they are to be happy in their new home.

For how horrible it would be if they came to believe that they had just exchanged one sad and lonely place for another...



But the good news is a lot of people all over the country are preparing to welcome them with open arms.

Those who feel we are being invaded should get a reality check.

Here’s another number: 36,634 — the number of people expected to attend the Grey Cup game this weekend. Yes, if you put all of the incoming Syrian refugees — including children — into seats at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, you would still have room for 11,000 frozen and crazed football fans to show the newcomers how Canadians have fun.

Or in the case of Michelle Rempel a morality check.

And as Rick Mercer suggests, everyone should stop yapping about deadlines.

And just throw those poor, desperate people a lifeline...



Yup. After so many years of darkness it is our shining moment to show the world and ourselves what it means to be Canadian.

They are counting on the kindness of strangers so we cannot disappoint them. Or let others hurt them.

But should instead be telling our newest Canadians as they start arriving at airports all over the country, with almost nothing but the clothes they are wearing.

Thank you for the precious gifts you are bringing us this holiday season.

Yourselves.

And welcome to Canada!!!!



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